"North Korea Resumes Missile Tests, Escalating Tensions After Rivals' Military Drills"

North Korea conducted multiple short-range ballistic missile tests towards its eastern waters, prompting condemnation from Japan, South Korea, and the U.S. The launches, the first in about a month, come after the end of South Korean-U.S. military drills. The missiles, fired from North Korea's capital region, traveled 300-350 kilometers and reached a maximum altitude of 50 kilometers. The U.S. State Department condemned the launches, emphasizing its commitment to the defense of South Korea and Japan. Tensions remain high on the Korean Peninsula, with experts suggesting that North Korea seeks to increase its leverage in future diplomacy with the United States.